Which A5 does Edmunds recommend?

The Premium Plus trim strikes a good balance of added features and price. In addition to some nice creature comforts, there are plenty of tech upgrades to justify the jump in price from the base Premium.

Edmunds' Expert Review

Overall rating

If you're shopping for a luxury coupe, you're likely expecting refinement, comfort, cutting-edge tech and performance. Lucky for you, the 2019 Audi A5 has all of those. Coming off a full redesign last year, the A5 returns with some minor changes. This time around, the manual transmission has been discontinued, as have the adaptive suspension dampers. Also, some items have been moved from the options column to the list of standard features.

Otherwise, the A5 remains unchanged, and that's a good thing. It occupies a narrow space between the sporty BMW 4 Series and the classically luxurious Mercedes-Benz C-Class. Like those German rivals, the A5 is available as a convertible, but the line also includes a four-door hatchback called the A5 Sportback.

Competition among these three luxury coupes is tight. The Audi is the newest, but with BMW's and Benz's frequent updates, there's really no clear winner or loser among them. Your choice will probably come down to personal preference, but we like the A5 for its balanced approach to luxury and performance.

Audi A5 models

The 2019 Audi A5 is available in its typical two-door coupe and convertible (Cabriolet) body styles as well as a four-door hatchback (the Sportback). All A5s are available in Premium, Premium Plus or Prestige trims and are powered by a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine (248 horsepower, 273 pound-feet of torque). All-wheel drive is included, as is a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission.

Most features on the upper trim levels are available on supporting trims as options. Other add-ons include 19-inch wheels, high-performance summer tires, sporty S line exterior embellishments, adaptive steering, a sport suspension, ventilated sport seats and a heated steering wheel.

Trim tested

Edmunds has not yet driven any version of the 2018 Audi A5. However, we've driven the related A4 and S5. Here's our take on what's significant about it and what you can expect.

Driving

If the mechanically similar A4 sedan is any indication, the A5 will rise to the top when it comes to performance. It will also score slightly above average for everyday drivability. We do suspect there will be a slight hesitation from the four-cylinder engine upon initial acceleration, though.

Comfort

The A5's seats are firm and well shaped for hours of comfortable driving. The cabin should be as quiet and isolating as those of the A4 and the S5 that we've evaluated, and the available adaptive suspension should smooth out the ride further.

Interior

The A5 gets high marks for its modern and elegantly simple interior. The materials quality is excellent for the class, and the controls are just where you'd want them as a driver. The rear seats are rather small and best suited for smaller passengers.

Utility

The A5 coupe's 11.6-cubic-foot trunk isn't the biggest in the class, but it should be enough for most cargo, and the flat load floor and handy hooks score it additional points. Interior storage for personal items is merely adequate.

Technology

Audi's MMI is one of the easier infotainment systems to operate, and the screen placement further reduces distraction. The available virtual instrument panel is as appealing to the eye as it is useful and effective. It makes cutting-edge tech as accessible as it can be.

Most helpful consumer reviews

5 out of 5 stars, A5 Sportback

Paul H. Fritz, 02/27/2019

2.0 TFSI Prestige quattro 2dr Coupe AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 7AM)

I have had the car for over a month and love it. It rides great and with 4 driver modes you can select how you want the steering response is to be. The cooled seats are great (I live in Florida). This is actually a sports car in disguise. The reason I say this is getting in and out is a bit of chore till you figure out what is best for you. I use the steering wheel as a support to get in and our. The back seats are for kids or really small people. Otherwise they are not useable. All of the electronics are great, but some are hard to understand, especially the lane keeping system. My only point of reference is my second generation Ford Fusion. It had the same kind of lane warning: vibrating steering wheel. However, on the Ford it was on all the time and worked at all speeds. On the A5 you have to set it up and then actually turn it on but depressing button of the end of the cruise control stalk and it only works above 40 MPH. The very best feature of the car is the virtual dashboard and the HUD (heads up display). All the information I need is displayed on the drives window and can moved up or down till it is just at the correct eye level. It is worth every penny I paid. I prepaid the three year lease and intend to buy it at the end of the lease. The price stated below includes a 6.5% sales tax. I also had to select the coupe designation since there is no sport-back listed above.

4 out of 5 stars, Fun car, happy with purchase.

NPJ, 06/24/2019

2.0 TFSI Premium Plus quattro 4dr Hatchback AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 7AM)

Overall I give it 4 stars. I tend to have high expectations when it comes to cars, and its difficult to find a vehicle in today's market that checks all of the boxes. This car comes close, with some minor annoyances. Pros: Great look, gets lots of compliments with the blue exterior and black optic package. Comfortable ride, great handling/acceleration, lots of room in the back for cargo. Fit/finish. Dealer was great to work with. Cons: ZERO storage up front. I went from a large SUV to this and truly didn't realize the amount of junk I keep in my car. The one small area in the center to store things has the wireless charger, so you have to keep it clear to use this feature. The glove box won't close if you put anything larger than a pair of sunglasses in it. Summer tires come standard on any appealing wheel choice, so I'll have to get a pair of all-seasons for the winter. Why Audi offers standard AWD and doesn't offer all-seasons is beyond me. Back seat leg room is meant for small children, middle seat is useless. Some paint chipping on the hood lip with less than 1k miles. Overall happy with the car, but will probably regret the purchase once I'm a few months into the payment.

5 out of 5 stars, Excellent

Brandon Y, 02/20/2019

2.0 TFSI Premium Plus quattro 4dr Hatchback AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 7AM)

Amazing vehicle, Otp for the premium plus for the upgraded Tech

4 out of 5 stars, unexpected rocket

new car user, 12/31/2019

2.0 TFSI Premium Plus quattro 4dr Hatchback AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 7AM)

I've had my sport back for a week. bought it as certified pre owned- got a good deal as its the end of the year, etc. I'm not sure why I was in the dealer for 5+ hours! You'd think that "old school" approach to car buying could be fixed by now. The one I opted for happened to have the "S" trim line and the "black optic package". Which, basically added a few trim pieces and a 3D B&O radio. ( I could have done without as the radio on the non-B&O is very nice for me. however this was the CPO vehicle in my price range, so I went with it)
I agree with another consumer review, the car is a sports car in disguise.
The Good: very responsive, sport suspension and sport mode transmission (along with other drive modes). A 4 door "sedan" with the versatility of the hatch back (which can tend to look weird but AUDI's is done very well). Lots of technology to play with. Coming from a Mazda CX5, I have a steep learning curve. I even had to call the Audi customer service because I could not figure out how to get "connected". Even with manuals and YouTube videos, I was clearly doing something wrong. Turns out a lot of the connectivity options and tech gadgets require a WiFi subscription- that is pricey. I'll stick to Apple CarPlay, as soon as I figure that out. Had the opportunity to car a road trip, 2 days into owning the car. It was a very pleasant drive, lots of room in the back for my 6 year old. He said it looked like a rocket inside.
The bad: again agree with the reviewer(s). very limited storage inside. I'll likely use one of the cup holders for storage of keys and iPhone. speaking of iphone- there is a wireless charger in the console. which is probably great for some, but I think its a waste of the already limited space. and you can't turn it off. If you put your phone there to "store" it- the charger will engage and make the phone very warm/hot to the touch. I was also surprised that I could not connect wirelessly to Apple Play. The phone needs to be pulled in.
No other real complaints. The car does everything very well. I didn't give the car a 5 star because of storage and WiFi annoyances.

Audi A5 vs. the competition

Audi A5 vs. BMW 4 Series

The 4 Series represents the athlete in the luxury coupe class, with a smidgen more performance than its competition if you opt for the six-cylinder engine. There's not much of a sacrifice either, as the BMW delivers a comfortable ride and an interior that is just as refined as those of its rivals. It is getting close to a full redesign, though, and some newer choices have more modern tech features.

Audi A5 vs. Mercedes-Benz C-Class

For a more classic interpretation of luxury, the C-Class is your best bet. Even though there's plenty of modern tech, it's blended into a more traditional and old-school cabin. The base C 300 should satisfy most drivers, while the AMG models will please more spirited drivers. We recommend upgrading the suspension, as the base model tends to ride a bit stiff.

Audi A5 vs. Lexus RC 350

The Lexus RC is a well-crafted luxury coupe that gets high marks for its quiet ride and smooth V6 power. It's not as engaging to drive as the German class entries, but stepping up to the F Sport trim will liven things up a bit. Lexus' tracepad infotainment controller continues to be a source of frustration, however, and the rear-seat accommodations are small, even for this class.

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FAQ

Is the Audi A5 a good car?

The Edmunds experts tested the 2019 A5 both on the road and at the track. Edmunds’ consumer reviews show that the 2019 A5 gets an average rating of 5 stars out of 5 (based on 9 reviews) You probably care about Audi A5 fuel economy, so it's important to know that the A5 gets an EPA-estimated 27 mpg. What about cargo capacity? When you're thinking about carrying stuff in your new car, keep in mind that the A5 has 11.6 cubic feet of trunk space. And then there's safety and reliability. Edmunds has all the latest NHTSA and IIHS crash-test scores, plus industry-leading expert and consumer reviews to help you understand what it's like to own and maintain a Audi A5. Learn more

What's new in the 2019 Audi A5?

According to Edmunds’ car experts, here’s what’s new for the 2019 Audi A5:

To determine whether the Audi A5 is reliable, read Edmunds' authentic consumer reviews, which come from real owners and reveal what it's like to live with the A5. Look for specific complaints that keep popping up in the reviews, and be sure to compare the A5's 5-star average consumer rating to that of competing vehicles. Learn more

Is the 2019 Audi A5 a good car?

There's a lot to consider if you're wondering whether the 2019 Audi A5 is a good car. Our consumer reviews show that the 2019 A5 gets an average rating of 5 stars out of 5 (based on 9 reviews). Safety scores, fuel economy, cargo capacity and feature availability should all be factors in determining whether the 2019 A5 is a good car for you. Learn more

What do people think of the 2019 Audi A5?

Consumer ratings and reviews are also available for
the 2019 Audi A5 and all its trim types.
Overall, Edmunds users rate the 2019 A5
4.8 on a scale of 1 to 5 stars.
Edmunds consumer reviews allow users to sift through aggregated consumer reviews to understand what
other drivers are saying about any vehicle in our database.
Detailed rating breakdowns (including performance, comfort, value, interior,
exterior design, build quality, and reliability) are available as well to provide shoppers with a
comprehensive understanding of why customers like the 2019 A5.

Edmunds Expert Reviews

Edmunds experts have compiled a robust series of ratings and reviews for the 2019 Audi A5 and all model years in our database. Our rich content includes expert reviews and recommendations for the 2019 A5 featuring deep dives into trim levels and features, performance, mpg, safety, interior, and driving. Edmunds also offers expert ratings, road test and performance data, long-term road tests, first-drive reviews, video reviews and more.

Our Review Process

This review was written by a member of Edmunds' editorial team of expert car reviewers. Our team drives every car you can buy. We put the vehicles through rigorous testing, evaluating how they drive and comparing them in detail to their competitors.

We're also regular people like you, so we pay attention to all the different ways people use their cars every day. We want to know if there's enough room for our families and our weekend gear and whether or not our favorite drink fits in the cupholder. Our editors want to help you make the best decision on a car that fits your life.

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Should I lease or buy a 2019 Audi A5?

Is it better to lease or buy a car? Ask most people and they'll probably tell you
that car buying is the way to go. And from a financial perspective, it's true, provided you're willing to make
higher monthly payments, pay off the loan in full and keep the car for a few years. Leasing, on the other hand,
can be a less expensive option on a month-to-month basis. It's also good if you're someone who likes to drive a
new car every three years or so.